Cup dispenser



July 5 1927 E. G. wEssMAN CUP DISPENSER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 5. 1923 f 5 2 .7 o 0 of July 5 1927' E. G. wEssMAN CUP DISPENSER Filed April 5, 19.23 3 SheetS-SheeI 2 1,634,566 July: 5 1927." Aga. G. wEssMAN CUP DISPENSER Filed April 5. 1923 s sheets-sheet 5 wwf @44m Patented `lilly 5, 1927.

TTES PATENT OFFFEC.

EDWING. WESSMAN, 0F EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO INDIVIDUAL DRINK- ING CP COMPANY, INC., OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYLVANIA.

CUP DISPENSER.

Application led April 3, 1923. Serial No. 629,611.`

lThis invention relates to dispensing devices, and more particularly to cup dispensers of the type comprising a container for a stack of nested cups and mechanisn for delivering the cups singly therefrom, the present invention being an improvement on the cup delivery mechanism disclosed in my application Serial No. 486,071.

In my prior application, referred to above, is disclosed mechanism for feeding the c ups from the nested stack within the container and for separating and ejecting the terminal cup of the stack, said mechanism comprismon a plurality of rotary worm members. particularly important novel characteristic of the present invention resides in an 1mproved modified construct-ion of rotary worm member whereby a more perfect, accurate, and dependable feeding of the cups from the nested stack is obtained. Y f

The invention, with other objects and advantages thereof, and the particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts comprising the same will be understood from the herein after contained detail desCriptiOn, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof and illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

yFigure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a cup dispenser constructed ip accordance with the present invention. y

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail top plan of the delivery worms and carrier therefor.

Fig. 5 is a. detail side elevation of the delivery worms and carrier.

Fig. 6 is a detail side elevation cfl one ofv the delivery or feed worms. s f

' Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of one of the feed worms.

Fig. 8 is a detail inverted plan View ofone ofthe feed worms.

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the actuator member for the feed worms.

The type of cup a illustrated in the`drawings is a'commercial form of paper cup, frusto-conical in shape and provided with an outwardly directed flange at the top. rThe bottom a2 is sli htly above the.l lower end of the cup, the anges a of the cups being spaced, as shown (see Figure 1 of the drawings), when the cups are nested.

Referring to a detail description of the cup dispensing apparatus illustrated in the drawings, 1 designates a casingpreferably of metalwhich forms a support forthe cup container, and the delivery mechanism. The casing 1, which is shown as of general cylindrical form with substantially rectan? gular extensions 2 at the front and rear, has integral flanges or bracket portions 3, adapted to be secured by screws or other suitable fastening members (not shown) to any suitable support. Extending upwardly from the top of the vcasing 1 is a socket t' in which the lower end of the cup container 5 is detachably seated, the latter being preferably of glass.

The mechanism for feeding the cups singly from the container 5 comprises a pluralitykof rotary escapements or feed worm members 6 disposed about the discharge end f the container in position to engage the flanges a of the cups, four of said worm members being shown in the present instance, equallyfspaced from each other.

In accordance with Imy present improvements, the worm members 6which are all of the same construction, are provided with initialturns or thread portions 6a of the same pitch spaced to correspond to the spacing of the flanges a of the nested cups within the container 5 (see particularly Figures 1, 5 and 6 of the drawings) and with succeeding thread portions or turns 6b of increased pitch.

The turns or thread portions 6a, 6b, of the feed wormmembers 6 have upper mtwardly and downwardly inclined or beveled cupflange engaging faces 6C, 6d, and the worm or escapement members are arranged Lwith their axes of rotation extending at an inclination in planes substantially lparallel Y with the longitudinal axis of the containerlhave a six degree tilt from the vertical.

The worm members 6 have at the beginning of their initial thread portions or turns 6a a portion 6", Awhich as shown have upper .flat horizontal extending face portions..

. below the position occupied by the lower end of the container and in axial alignment therewith, said cylindrical part or member at its upper end having a beveled'face 8 and forming substantially a continuation of the container 5.y The cylindrical member 7 has a plurality of openings 7 one for each of the worm members 6, and the latter are supported with portions thereof extending inwardly through said openings 7' beyond the inner face of thelcylindrical part 7, as shown. The feed worms or escapement members 6 are adapted to support the stack of nested cups as indicated in Figure 1 of th e drawings, the flange a -of the lowermost cup of the nested stack resting upon the top face portion 6 of the uppermost thread portion or turn 6a of the worm members. The feed worm members or escapements are operated in unison and upon rotation thereof from the position shown in Figure 1 the top face portion 6e of the feed worm members or escapements move out of engagement with the flangeea' of the lowermost cup of the stack. and the cup flange is engaged by the thread portions or turns 65,' 6", of the feed worms or escapement members, and the cup advanced, the flange ofthe succeeding cup being caught and temporarily held by the uppermostface portions 6e of the worm members, as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, the stack of cups being fed by gravity` onto the upper topmost face portion 6e of the feed Worms. During the first part of the feeding operation of the cups by the worms or escapement members 6, while they are in engagement with the initial thread portions or turns 6a, the same spacing of the flanges of the cups fed forward is maintained, until the cupsy are well engaged by the worm members, the separating action not occurring until after the cup-s pass from said initial thread turns 6l1 to the thread portions or turns 61 of increased pitch.

The s ecial construction and arrangement,

of the eed worm members or escapem'ents .6 provided with initial thread turns or portions of the same pitch spaced to correspond with the spacing of the flanges of the cups when nested,V and with succeeding thread turns or portions of increased/ pitch affords a construction that operates with great accuracy and certainty, the proper engagement of the worms with the flanges of the nested cups within the stack being" insured, the preliminary `or initial 'step ofthe feeding of the cups from the container 5 being effected in a smooth easy gradual way.

, The feed worm or escape'ment member 6 should have at least one. and. one half turns lhave more of such turns.

or thread portions of the same pitch corresponding to the spacing of the flanges a of the nested cups, and preferably they should In the preferred construction shown in the drawings, which has proven very satisfactory in operation, the feed worm members or escapements 6 have two of such turns 6, and a succeeding thread turn 6b of gradually increasing pitch, the first two turns 6"1 being on a scale of six lthreads per inch, and the following thread portion or turn 6b being on a scale of two and one half threads per inch.

In the particular construction illustrated in the drawings, the feed worms or esca )ements 6 and cylindrical part or mem er 7 are combined as a single unit. The cylindrical part or member 7 is provided with upper and lower lateral flanges 9, 10, between which the worm members 6 are supported, said flanges 9 and 10 having bearings 9', 10 that are engaged by journals l1, and bearing faces 12 at the upper and lower ends of the worm members, the cylindrical par't or member 7 serving as a carrier for the worms. The Carrier with the worm members is supported within the casing 1 upon upstanding walls 13, 14 on` a bottom plate 15 of the casing, the upper flange 9 having corner extensions 10a resting upon the upper ends of said walls. The bottom plate 15, corresponding -in shape to the contour of thecasing 1,` said screws 16 also engaging openings in the corner extensions 10a of the worin carrier, and serving to firmly secure the parts together.

The operating means for the rotary feed wor-ms or escapements 6 includes an actuator ring in the form of an'internal gear 17 which meshes with pinions 6g on the lower ends of the worm members 6. In the particular construction shown the actuator gear ring 17 is fixed to and extends upwardly from a collar 18 on a tubular part 19, the latter being supported for axial rotation on the bottom plate l5 of the casing. The bott-om plate 1 has a circular openin'gand an annular bearing 22. and the tubular part 19, at its upper portion is provided with an out-er cylindrical bearing rface 20'* rotatably engaging said annular bearing 22 of said bottom plate. As will be understood, upon rotation of the tubular part 19 the yfeed worms or escapement members 6 will be s1- lmultaneously rotated, said tubular part 19 'being adapted to be grasped by the hand lil-7 lll) ing means for feed Worm members 6 .at an inclination While at the same time providing for the proper meshing of the worm pinions 6 with the teeth of the internal gear or actuator ring 17.

The tubular part 19 is adapted to be operated in one direction (that indicated ,by the arrow inl Fig. 2 of the drawings), the operative connection between said tubular part 19 and the Worm members 6 being such that only a relatively movement of thetubular part 19 is sufficient to 'effect the delivery of a cup. AIn the particularv construction shown, one seventh turn of the tubular part is suflicient. i

In Figures 2V and 3 of the drawings` is illustrated in a general way means for automatically determining and limiting the cxtent of continuous rotation of the tubular operating part 19 whereby said tubular part can only be rotated a predetermined amount and the delivery mechanism is only operated to deliver a single cupv upon each operation or stroke of the tubular operating member. The means for this purpose comprises a pawl 23, and a ratchet 24. This mechanism is fully disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 486,071 and a more detailed description of the same is believed unnecessary in the present case.

lVhile a specific embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings, it Wilhof course be understood that this is by Way of example, and that changes and variations in. the particular construction illustrated, and the carrying out of the invention in other forms, asY will appeal to those skilled in the art and falling Within the scope of the appended claims may be practiced Withi out departing from the spiritof the invention. f i

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus for dispensing cups having lateral flanges spaced apart when the cups are nested, a container for a stackvof cups, a plurality of rotary Worin members disposed about'the discharge end of the container and adapted to feed the cupssingly from a stack of nested cups within the container, said Worm members having initial,

'thread turns of the same pitch spaced to cornested cups, and with a succeeding thread turn portion of increased pitch, and operattherotary Worm members.

2. In an apparatus for dispensing cups having lateral flanges spaced apart when the cups are nested, a container for a stack of cups, a plurality 'of rotary worm members disposed about the discharge end ofthe container and adapted to feed the cups singly i from a stack of nested cups Within the container, each of said worm members having initial thread turns of the same pitch spaced to correspond to the spacing 'of the ilanges small amount ofh turning,

the' flanges of the of the nested cups, and with a succeeding thread turn portion of increased pitch, said Worms being arranged with their axes of rotation extending at4 an' inclination in planes substantially parallel with the longitud`nal axis of the container, and operating means for the Worm members.

3. In. an apparatus for dispensing cups having lateral flanges spaced apart when the cups are nested, a cont-ainer for a stack of cups, a lurality of rotary Worm members disposed about the discharge end of the container and adapted to separate and feed the axisof the container, and operating means for the worm members.

4. In an apparatus vfor dispensing cups having lateral flanges spaced apart when the cups are nested, a container for a stack of cups, a plurality of rotary Worm members disposed about the discharge end of the container 'and adapted to feed the cups singly from a stack of nested cups Within the container, said worm vmembers having initial thread turns of the same pitch spaced to corresponds to the spacing of the flanges of the nested cups, and with a succeeding thread turn portion of increased pitch, the thread turns of the Worms having transversely beveled faces to engage the flanges of the cups, said Worms being arrange faces extending' in planes substantially1 paryof the same pitch spaced to correspond to flanges spaced apart when u, to extend at an inclination with said beveled i the spacing of the flanges of the nested cups,

and with a succeedin thread turn portion of increased p1tch, an

the rotary worm members.

operating means for In testimony vvhereot` I hereunto` ax my p signature.

- EDWIN G. WESSMAN.

allel with the planes ofthe flanges, of the 110 

